A lot of things will happen this offseason that will change the Celtics. At least they still have Brad Stevens.
It’s seems to be common practice for the Celtics to be in the center of every rumor during the NBA offseason. While that may be exciting for fans following the team, it can be unsettling for the players on the roster.
The Celtics will look a lot different next season than they did this year, but the one constant that Boston can pridefully hang their hat on is their head coach Brad Stevens. No matter what moves Danny Ainge makes, fans can be comfortable with their head coach making all the right calls come game time.
Stevens is under contract for another five years after a contract extension last summer. Entering his fifth season in the NBA, the 40-year-old coach has become one of the best coaches in the league already. He has consistently maximized the talent given to him by the front office, and had Boston in the conference finals this season after winning just 25 games three years ago.
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In the playoffs this season, Stevens faced off against Fred Hoiberg, a common comparison to him, Scott Brooks who has made it to the NBA Finals before, and Tyronn Lue who has made it to two straight finals. While Stevens two of the three match ups, he completely out-classed his opposition every round.
The only coaches in the NBA that are considered better than Stevens is Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich, and that’s only because of the titles they have won thanks to the talent they have been fortunate to coach.
Whether the Celtics take Markelle Fultz for the first pick, or trade the pick to take Josh Jackson to possibly trade for a superstar, Boston fans can be confident in their coach to make this team the best it can be. With Jackson, I’m sure Stevens would be able to utilize him effectively in small ball situations that maximize his strengths and cover his weaknesses.
With Fultz, Stevens would definitely be able to get creative and have Isaiah Thomas play off the ball in some cases to create a lethal offensive back court. If the Celtics trade for a player like Paul George, Stevens would easily fit him in to beat the Cavaliers and Warriors in next year’s playoffs. Whatever point you think the Celtics are at, Stevens lifts them one level above it.
Not every fan base has the luxury of having an executive as smart and strategic as Danny Ainge, but it’s rare to have equal if not greater trust in the coach as well. Stevens is the kind of coach that attracts superstars with his strategic excellence and how he creates a great environment for winning.
Next: What Josh Jackson Would Bring to the Celtics
While Kerr and Popovich have the accolades, I’ll take Stevens over anyone else in the NBA. If there is a such thing as a 20 year contract extension, I’d be the first to sign up for Brad to receive that deal. As long as Stevens is the coach of the Celtics, Boston fans can be confident that their team will always improve.